רַבְשָׁקֵה
𐤓𐤁𐤔𐤒𐤄
Raveshaqeh
H7262 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Rabshakeh is a title designating a high-ranking Assyrian official, most likely the chief cupbearer or a senior military officer. In the Hebrew Bible, it is used as an appellative (not a personal name) for the royal emissary sent by the king of Assyria to negotiate with the kingdom of Judah during the reign of Hezekiah. The semantic range includes official titles (not personal names), especially a high-ranking court or military functionary responsible for prominent tasks, often diplomatic or ceremonial.
Semantic Range
chief cupbearer, high-ranking royal official, senior emissary, field commander, Assyrian palace officer, title for diplomatic or military representative
Root / Etymology
The term רַבְשָׁקֵה is derived from two elements: רַב (rav, 'chief,' 'great') and a second element שָׁקֵה, considered to be from the Akkadian 'rab šāqê' (chief cupbearer). Its Hebrew form represents a transliteration of this Akkadian title, not a native Hebrew compound; thus, the lexical elements are borrowed and reflect Assyrian administrative structure.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical context, Rabshakeh appears chiefly in 2 Kings 18–19 and Isaiah 36–37 as the official who addresses the Judahite delegation and populace during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. The title reflects an Assyrian (not Israelite/Judahite) administrative rank; the individual bearing the title is never named in the text. In later tradition, the rendering sometimes takes the form 'Rabshakeh' as if it were a personal name, but in reality, it is strictly a title. Historical sources and Akkadian records confirm the existence of the office of 'rab šāqê,' a chief officer, often linked to royal service and diplomatic functions. The term does not carry religious or ethnic connotations, and its use is almost exclusively within Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian royal administrative contexts. Standard translations as 'Rabshakeh' or (rarely) 'chief cupbearer' sometimes obscure the diplomatic and military authority implied by the title in ancient contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רַב and שָׁקָה; chief butler; Rabshakeh, a Babylonian official; Rabshakeh.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רבב (r-b-b) — to be many, to become great, to multiply
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1337 | בַּת רַבִּים | many |
| H2579 | חֲמַת רַבָּה | great |
| H4764 | מֵרָב | Abundant one |
| H7227 | רַב | many |
| H7228 | רַב | his archers |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7262-02 |
שָׁקֵ֨ה | shaqeh | HNp |
shakeh | chief cupbearer-official | 16 |
H7262-01 |
רַב | rav | HNcmsc |
Rab | great | 16 |
Occurrences in Scripture
32 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7262-01 |
2 Kings 18:17 | רַב | rav-2 | HNcmsc |
Rab | great |
H7262-02 |
2 Kings 18:17 | שָׁקֵ֨ה | shaqeh | HNp |
-shakeh | chief cupbearer-official |
H7262-01 |
2 Kings 18:19 | רַב | rav | HNcmsc |
Rab | great |
H7262-02 |
2 Kings 18:19 | שָׁקֵ֔ה | shaqeh | HNp |
shakeh | chief cupbearer-official |
H7262-01 |
2 Kings 18:26 | רַב | rav | HNcmsc |
the Rab | great |
H7262-02 |
2 Kings 18:26 | שָׁקֵ֗ה | shaqeh | HNp |
shakeh | chief cupbearer-official |
H7262-01 |
2 Kings 18:27 | רַב | rav | HNcmsc |
Rabshakeh | great |
H7262-02 |
2 Kings 18:27 | שָׁקֵ֗ה | shaqeh | HNp |
the cupbearer | chief cupbearer-official |
H7262-01 |
2 Kings 18:28 | רַב | rav | HNcmsc |
Rabshakeh | great |
H7262-02 |
2 Kings 18:28 | שָׁקֵ֔ה | shaqeh | HNp |
shakeh | chief cupbearer-official |